Boxing ring
The village of Box, between Bath and Corsham, enjoys an enviable location. To the north, the fields drop away to the By Brook before steep hillsides climb up towards the hilltop settlement of Colerne, marked by its prominent church tower. To the south and east lie Box hill and Kingsdown hill, beneath whose slopes lie miles of tunnels, the remains of the prominent stone-mining industry that dominated the local economy over many centuries. The evidence of this golden limestone can be found in the cottages and grand houses that line the hillside, all lovingly crafted from the underlying bedrock.
The heyday of stone mining in Box was back in the 18th century when many of the magnificent Georgian terraces in Bath were under construction. Stone quarrying had been prevalent in the place for many a long year, however. As far back as the 7th century, St Adhelm is said to have thrown down his glove on a nearby hillside and, where it landed, he instructed his men to dig and they would find treasure.
The treasure in question was the excellent building stone that had, in fact, already been used by the Romans. St Adhelm is said to have used the stone from here in such magnificent constructions as Lacock Abbey and Malmesbury Abbey.
From Box there is a steep climb up to Box hill, with the reward for all of that exertion being some fine views across the By Brook Valley. here we find Box hill Common, whose common land status was contested in the courts in the past. Fortunately, there was adequate evidence to preserve this status, such as: “Wilf Barnett kept fowl and his clothes line on the common; the Lucas family had grazed a donkey there in 1926; Fred Couzens lived on Box hill for 58 years and kept seven or eight goats, a pony and had two sheds on the common and collected windfalls of firewood.”
A steep descent brings the walk to Drewetts Mill and the By Brook. One of the most attractive of the Avon’s tributaries, this diminutive river has its source above Castle Combe from where it flows to its confluence with the Avon at Bathford. If you can track down a copy of Ken hall and John Govett’s Where To Watch Birds in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, the ornithological opportunities along the By Brook are well documented.
The path downstream from Box is described as having rather more in the way of willows and alders by the river, as well as vertical banks that provide nestsites for kingfishers. Dippers are also a common sight along this section of the river.
And the usual quest for rest and refreshment. On Box hill is the iconic Quarrymans Arms, whose name is self-explanatory given the area’s reputation for the quality of its stone. The pub dates back over 250 years and, book a window seat in the restaurant, and you will be rewarded with one of the area’s finest views. If you prefer to relax at the end of the walk, there is the Queens head in Box itself, but check the opening times online. The pub also offers The Queens head Cafe in its grounds.
There is also the Northey Arms on the edge of Box and on the A4 driving back to Bath. here you will find a secret garden with five pods under canvas.
GETTING There
■ Follow the A4 from Bath to Box and, just past the traffic lights at the junction with the A365, turn left into Valens Terrace opposite the Box Pharmacy. Drive down to, and park in, the car park by the recreation ground.
■ 1. Walk back up to the A4, cross the road and follow the pavement to the left. In 200 yards, having passed Chapel Lane and Box Methodist Church, veer right onto a road with “no entry” signs. Walk downhill to the Market Place and continue for 100 yards before climbing uphill on an alleyway called Glovers Lane. At the top of Glovers Lane, follow Hazelbury Hill opposite. Walk uphill to the point where this road ends by Hazelbury Cottage. Continue uphill on a footpath to reach a junction of Lane opposite down to the A4. Cross the A4 and follow the lane opposite down to Drewetts Mill. Cross the By Brook before turning left along a side lane.
■ 3. In 75 yards, pass through a gateway on the left and walk down the left edge of a field to a gate in its bottom corner. Walk the length of the two fields, the By Brook on the left, to reach a gate in the left corner of the second field in ½ mile. Beyond this gate, follow a footpath to the right that winds its way around to Mill Lane by the Real World Recording Studios. Turn left and, having passed under a railway bridge, continue for 25 yards to the second of two consecutive footpaths on the right. Follow this path into Box’s Recreation Ground and walk back across to the car park.